The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-05-14
GROWN IEEWI.S At AUCTION.

GROWN JEEN LIS Al AJtItON.
One of the most remarkabl scenes
OF the century ia to be enacted in Paris
on Thursday, the 10Th of May inst. 1t
is nothing less than the selling out ut
public auction of all the relics of mUn-
archy which now remain in that re-
public, namely, the crown jewels of
France. There are crowns of various
eras of French history, sceptres, royal
ornaments which have been worn by
the most celebrated as well as the most
notorious men and women who have
sat upon the throne of France. There
are necklaces, parures. bracelets, sir-
dies, garters and other ornaments brill
liant with jewels of the richest descrip.
ton. They are saturated with the
romance, the intrigues and the crimes
in which they have participated, and
one may almost believe that in their
crystal hearts are preserved photo.
graphs Of scenes aud personages which
their glowing faces have mirrored and
focused in the times long past.
What bewildering visions of regal
beauty, Of princely chivalry, of tyr
amy, of political intrieues, of lofty
love and debasing RIGHTEOUSNESS, of
brilliant tetes and historic councils the
gtittering eyes of these myriad gems
have looked upon in all those eventful
centuries. Now, the crowns ara to be
broken up and their precious metals
with the & old and silver settings of the
other ornaments will be sent to the
mint for coinage, while the jewels ta-
ken from their mGuIdings arc to be
sold in lots to the highest bidders.
There are for sale ~ ,522 diamonds Of
various sizes, 1868 pearls, 507 rubics,
1856 sapphires, 3i2 emeralds, 52S tur-
quoises, 90 opals and i96 miscellaneous
stones. In addition TO these there are
several historic relics which are to be
preserved for their associations aud
traditions. They arc chiefly "the Re-
gent" an enormous diamond set in Il
brooch OF triangular form enriched
with brilliants in the style of Louis
Nv; a sword which is said to have be.
lopged to Charles X; watch of the
Dey of Algiers, presented to him by
Louis XIV; small black elephant of
Danish workmanship, marvellous
specimen of enameling; II large en-.
graved ruby representing Il chimera,
which figured in the Golden Fleece; a
parure of precious stones OF the time of
Louis XVI; one of the Mazarin dia-
monds, and, finally, Il small dragon,
ornamented with pearl mounted on
a plaque of enameled gold.
Then there are numerous stones
which possess rather n scientific value
or are interesting as curiosities. They
are to be retained for the national mu-
seums. They consist OF three diamond
ornaments, three rubies, twelve anne
thysts, twenty one opals, thirteen
pearls, one lot OF small pearls, two lots
of turquoises, one lot of emeralds, one
lot of topaz roses, one lot of pearls, one
lot of green stones, one diamond pOr-
trait and a miscellaneous lot designed
for the School of Mines and composed
of rubics, emeralds, sapphires and din-
monds.
Thus gradually vanish from among
the nations the insignia of monarchy,
the external forms OF sytem which
has declared that men were not FREQ
and equal before the law, but that some
were vested with divine right to rule,
while the remaining millions were in-
tended TO be held forever in suhjectiOn
and slavery. But TO day all the thrones
Of the nations are trembling under the
gathering throes of far away but
steadily approaching earthquake, ard
monarchy is being closed out by public
Outcry, upon the self-same platform
where once men and women were sct
up aud sold into slavery. 1t is king
ship which is under the hammer, go
ing, going, gone ne!-Pic0Y'O,c.